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RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION CONCERNING TUBE TRANSPORTATION AS A NEW FREIGHT TRANSPORT SYSTEM

This report is a feasibility and economic study on the tube transportation system. The report points out that since 1960 Japan's gross national product has increased 3.3 times and goods to be transported 3.8 times. In order to meet future needs, the tube transportation system is investigated as an alternative to the existing high fuel consuming rail, vehicle and car-ferry transportation systems. The mechanism and construction of the T/S is discussed: 1) type of material for the pipeline construction: steel, concrete, and plastic 2) elevated, ground or under-ground construction; 3) methods to connect the pipe-line sections; 4) The route system: a combination of linear, loop, and loop with multiple stations systems; 5) types of capsule containers; 6) a four part control system: a, manual mode, b. automatic mode, c. computer assisted, d. computer control mode; 7) maintenance. The feasibility and cost of using the tube transportation for long and short distance transport are studied: the construction of a Tokaido route (major eastern route along the ocean) is estimated to cost 5,981,700,000,000 yen for a 720 containers/hr and 11,245,300,000,000 yen for a 1440/hr system; the construction of a solid waste transportation pipe-line for the 23 districts of Tokyo as a pilot project to introduce the T/S is recommended; and the feasibility of constructing a freight T/S route from Haneda airport to Tokyo station is discussed.